My classes work best when students are willing to be interactive and immersed in Deaf situations, learn to turn voices off over time, and role play as needed to become stronger signers. Our goal is to bring you to a conversational level and to help you build your understanding of grammar, expressive and receptive skills, and situational vocabulary. Depending on your level and needs, I will be providing supplemental materials, videos, written materials, and other creative tools to deepen your language understanding. Most importantly, I build long-lasting relationships with my students, meeting on a regular basis, covering all aspects of skill-building, test prep, and organization. BACKGROUND •I worked in 3+ school districts and assisted students with special needs. •I have helped children as young as 3 years old and older than 50+ find their passion for American Sign Language. •CSUN Bachelor’s degree in Deaf Studies. •U of A Master’s Degree-Deaf/Hard of Hearing Teacher Preparation Program and Accelerated Master’s Program. •Passed the ASLPI (American Sign Language Proficiency Exam) through Gallaudet University. •Was a teacher of the deaf and an *itinerant teacher for the entire school district. *Itinerant teachers (also called "visiting" or "peripatetic" teachers) are traveling schoolteachers. They are sometimes specialized to work in their trade or field of special education as well as providing individual tutoring. The additional ($24) program I use to teach lessons has been approved and endorsed by Gallaudet University and has met the standards for the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL). It has also been accepted as an appropriate curriculum by TEKS or the Texas Essential Knowledge standards for Texas High school students. If you would like to take the course information to your school to see if it is accepted for credits whether that be for high school or college, please let me know. (The addition of this program is not required, but it does support retention for serious students.) To get the most out of our lessons, I recommend 10-15 lessons to start with as this ensures you have time to learn and grow as a student, as language learning happens over time. My priority is to help you succeed. I also realize that everyone learns differently. This is why all of my tutoring/teaching/mentoring is 100% individualized. I plan according to your goals, your learning style, and your challenges. My students get results because their learning is tailored to their individual needs. TUTORING OPTIONS: Private Lessons: From beginner to advanced, lessons are tailored to your level and needs, with use of videos, materials, and other tools as needed for success. Homework Assistance: Taking an ASL class and feeling lost? Let me help! We’ll work with your class lessons and makes them understandable! Group Classes: Want to work with your friends on learning? now you can! (Use the ASK A QUESTION button to set up group rates.) Family Classes: Deaf family member and need support? I am here to help facilitate communication! Baby Sign Language Classes: Advocates report that taking baby sign language classes enables children to communicate effectively before speech evolves and improves language acquisition and parent-child bonding. Baby sign language is NOT American Sign Language with all its syntax and structure, but uses signs from ASL in a way baby can comprehend and utilize them. Other reasons to take ASL classes include: Continued Education, valuable curriculum for homeschooled students, provides work or business language support (valuable for medical personnel, audiologists, behavior clinic specialists, etc.) For students age 8 and under, I recommend 15- to 30-minute sessions. Please contact me for that special pricing. (Use the ASK A QUESTION button) TEACHING PHILOSOPHY: Total immersion gives the language learner the best chance at acquiring a new language. Just as moving to another country can strengthen language, in American Sign Language it is important to get involved in the community, watch videos, movies, read books, and use the voice-off method that has been known to support student growth. In each lesson, I strive to include Deaf experience situations and opportunities to immerse the student even further. These methods have been tried and true for decades, and as you become more comfortable over time, they will feel like second nature and provide you with results.

About Marissa P.